Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2004 11:49:31 +0000
From: christopher morgan
Subject: Straigt-to-hell / Chapter 1 / Science Fiction
If you are under age, or live in an area where reading tales of male sex is
illegal, or if you're not into this type of story, please leave.
Hi guys, this is my first attempt at a story for Nifty. I'm not sure if
it's any good. Please email and let me know!
My email is chrism27@hotmail.com
Chapter 1
The Pentagon
"Status?" The General's eyes were hard and tense, and his voice was
clipped.
"Sir, the targets have been acquired, awaiting permission to fire at your
command." The Colonel's response contained a similar amount of tension.
The special operations command center was fully staffed, but the electronic
hum of computers and air-conditioners could be clearly heard in the
background. The room was almost silent, the military personnel
concentrating on the information displayed on their consoles.
The General let out a deep breath and raised his eyes to the gallery
overlooking the command centre and a man in uniform who stood there. The
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff looked back and nodded slowly but
firmly.
The General turned back to look at his second in command, his movements now
filled with resolution. "Very well Colonel, permission is given" he said.
South Africa
The squadron was flying low over the suburbs of Cape Town, fast approaching
their destination. The weapons were ready to go, and once the firing order
was received over the satellite link-up, over 40 `smart' missiles were
launched from the planes, and accelerated towards their target.
There were no air defences around the three-story, 1980s office-building.
There were no dud missiles either, and all 40 of them slammed into the
target, engulfing the building in hugely powerful explosions. When the
squadron flew over a little while later, they reported the mission a
success.
The Pentagon
The destruction of the target was confirmed 30 minutes later by satellite,
and the tension in the command center lessened almost immediately. They
thought it was over, the crisis had been averted. There would be a
considerable amount of behind-the-scenes diplomatic work to be done, but
the mission had been accomplished.
South Africa
The emergency services had already been scrambled and were on their way to
the destroyed building. It appeared that no-one in the surrounding area had
been seriously hurt, but it was assumed that anyone who had been inside
would have been killed. The building had been rented by a small genetics
company for R&D purposes, and the owners would be contacted as soon as
possible. There might be dangerous chemicals and pollutants that would need
to be dealt with carefully during the clean-up.
However, the city officials had problems contacting the owners. In the
coming months fraud investigators would attempt to unravel the network of
paperwork surrounding the company, but would have no luck. No problems were
reported however, and tests for the most common pollutants that a genetics
company might use proved non-existent or negligible. The central government
discouraged any questions on how exactly the building had been destroyed.
No further action was taken.
The Oval Office -- 1 year later
"Mr President, the final issue on the agenda for today is the round up the
WhiteMight terrorist cells in Alabama", the Director of the CIA took out a
folder from his briefcase and laid it upon the table.
"Sir, we've uncovered some disturbing links to terrorist groups in South
Africa, including the September Group" he continued.
"The September Group? I thought we took care of that last year, it took
enough effort to convince the South Africans not to go apeshit over us
invading their airspace and destroying an office block in suburban Cape
Town. I thought it was all over" the President looked up from the briefing
papers on his desk impatiently. The security review was almost over and he
had a meet and greet session with some important donors in ten minutes.
"Yes sir, but some of the details appear to suggest that members of
WhiteMight have been in contact with September Group people recently" The
Director replied. "We're keeping an eye on it."
Center for Disease Control, Atlanta -- 1 year later
"OK people what's the latest on the South African flu situation?" The
senior staff were sitting around a conference table, the coffee had been
poured, and they were settling in for the long haul.
"Well, we've gone way past epidemic figures as of the end of last week"
replied the chief epidemiologist, "but so far it's still proving a
remarkably mild version. It puts people out for a few days, but death stats
are lower than expected. We are still figuring it should burn out within
three months, it's already tailing off in Europe, and most of Africa and
Asia dealt with in last year".
"Did you hear the reports from Virginia?" responded another department
head. "They're detecting high levels of antibodies in apparently non
infected subjects, even in virgin field populations, Max Sheffield in
Chicago is worried we could be looking at something new".
"That's actually something I wanted to raise with you" The head of Virology
spoke up, clearing his throat. "This could be potentially serious, if we
can confirm it that is. We've done the initial analysis of the virus and,
well...we've found signs of engineering in the RNA. It's very subtle, and
as I said, it's not confirmed, but if it's true, then we could be looking
at the possibility that the virus is not entirely a natural occurrence."
The conference room went silent.
University of Chicago -- 3 months later
Michael Andrews ran from the basement cleanroom decontamination suite, up
the stairs, and straight into Professor Sheffield's office. "George!"
Michael's voice was breathless and strained. "Forty-three of them died last
night, all male". He stopped and gulped, the fear in his expression
obviously apparent.
Professor Max Sheffield, half stood from his desk. The expression on his
face was fixed, under tight control, but the color drained from it
rapidly. "Are you sure? Michael..."
"Max, the primates have the same level of protein shielding, the same
generation of the virus, that infected humans will have within two
months. Whoever designed it timed it closely Max, God knows how they did
it, but this is terrifying!" Michael's voice was rapidly approaching
hysteria.
"I'll get right onto the CDC." Replied the ashen faced professor, his had
shakily reaching out for the telephone.
"Max, what are the infection survey results? I know you were informed,
that's why you went to the meeting in Washington wasn't it?" Michael's
voice became quiet, his eyes locked onto the professor, refusing to let him
go.
The professor blinked and look down in defeat, "Michael, those are
confidential, I'd be breaking the law if I..."
"Max, tell me" Michael cut off his protestations.
The professor sighed and rubbed his forehead, he looked every bit his 53
years. He looked up at Michael and saw the intense young man staring at him
unrelentingly. He thought to himself, what was the point anyway? He'd know
within two months. "Michael, everyone who has been tested, 7.5 million
people in the US alone, and millions more worldwide have tested
positive. We're looking at 100%".
Michael became completely still, "There's more" he said.
"The fifty-seven per cent of the monkeys who survived"
"Yes?" enquired the professor hesitantly, not sure he wanted to hear the
rest.
"They were all female, apart from 7 males" Max replied.
"Correlation?" the professor asked.
"I talked to Jane Healy, she know the monkeys almost individually. She said
that all seven males showed a preference for homosexual activity, they were
the only males to survive".
"Oh my God" said the professor, shocked.
"You know what this could mean don't you? Hell, what it probably does
mean!" Micheal's eyes began to fill with tears.
"I've got to make that phone call". The Professor reached for the handset
again.